Brief
Helium shortage deepens as Iran‑Qatar conflict disrupts supply chain
Iranian attacks on a Qatari gas facility and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have crippled the global helium supply, driving prices up three‑fold.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The world’s helium supply is tightening seven months after Iranian strikes hit Qatar’s Ras Laffan gas plant and the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed, CBS News reported on October 18.
What happened
In February 2026 the Strait of Hormuz was shut, trapping roughly one‑third of global helium in the Persian Gulf. In March, Iranian forces struck the Ras Laffan facility in Qatar, the world’s largest producer of helium as a by‑product of natural gas. The Qataris said full restoration could take at least three years. The United States, which supplies most of the remaining commercial helium from a single Wyoming plant, has seen its exports rise 70% since the war began, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
What the reports add
Cliff Cain, president of a helium exploration company, warned that the supply chain is fragile because production is concentrated in Algeria, Poland, Russia, Qatar and the United States, with the bulk coming from Qatar and the U.S. He noted that helium must be kept at –452 °F during transport and is lost forever once released into the atmosphere.
Rich Brooke, a former Air Liquide executive, said spot prices for helium have tripled since the conflict began. Companies in South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore are now turning to U.S. suppliers, but the U.S. cannot offset the shortage indefinitely.
What was said
"All it takes is a few of those to fall and the whole supply chain comes unraveled," Cain told CBS News.
Brooke added, "Spot prices on helium have tripled since the start of the war," highlighting the rapid price escalation.
How it came about
Helium, a finite natural resource, is essential for smartphones, cars, MRI machines, rocket launches and missiles. Its extraction and transport challenges, combined with geopolitical tensions, have exposed the vulnerability of a market that relies on a handful of sites. The current crisis follows earlier supply‑chain disruptions reported by Felo News, including the impact of fuel price hikes on South African logistics and the broader discussion of supply‑chain resilience in the tech sector.
Key facts
- Iranian strikes on Qatar's Ras Laffan plant in March 2026 disrupted a major helium source. (cbsnews.com)
- The closure of the Strait of Hormuz in February 2026 trapped about one‑third of global helium. (cbsnews.com)
- U.S. helium exports have risen 70% since the war began, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. (cbsnews.com)
- Spot helium prices have tripled since the start of the conflict, per former Air Liquide executive Rich Brooke. (cbsnews.com)
- Helium must be kept at –452 °F during transport and is lost forever once released. (cbsnews.com)
Sources
- [1] cbsnews.com — originally reported as “Helium is way more important than you might think. And the supply chain is in crisis.”
